Latest news with #Givan
Belfast Telegraph
15-05-2025
- Business
- Belfast Telegraph
Education Minister announces £55m extension to childcare scheme
The Executive Agreed the additional investment into early learning and childcare for 2025 and 2026 on Thursday. The NICSS was first introduced in September 2024, it provides a 15% subsidy to working parents eligible for Tax Free Childcare (TFC). However, this was previously only for children who had not yet started primary school. With the latest investment, it will now include children who are in school at the start of this coming school year. 'On becoming Education Minister, I pledged to help working parents with the cost of childcare,' said the Education Minister. 'I am very pleased to announce that the Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme will be extended to include school age children from 1 September 2025. 'Last year, my priority was to develop a subsidy scheme that would reduce childcare costs for the parents of very young children, who often experience the greatest costs. 'So far, the Childcare Subsidy Scheme has saved Northern Ireland parents approximately £8m which they would have had to pay in childcare fees. 'I now want to build on this and support a much greater number of parents with the costs of childcare. 'Today's funding boost will allow us to do this and provide support for a much larger group of working parents,' said Mr Givan. It is estimated that the number of children who will benefit from the scheme will increase by 60%, from 15,000 to roughly 24,000. 'This means that the working parents of school age children will now receive the 15% subsidy, up to the capped amount, on their childcare bills,' said the DUP MLA. 'When this is combined with Tax Free Childcare, it will provide a reduction of up to 32% on childcare bills.' 'Today's investment will enable the significant progress that has been made over the past year to be sustained, with further growth in key areas. 'I am now able to expand vital early years services such as Sure Start, the Pathway Fund, Toybox and the Bookstart Baby Programme. 'Over the next year I will also continue the expansion of pre-school education towards the goal of providing 22.5 hours per week for all children in their immediate pre-school year. 'At least an additional 100 settings providing the next cohort of 2,000 children with a full-time place will be available by September 2026. "Combined, the package of support reflects my ongoing commitment to prioritise early years. 'Given the impact this can have on children's future outcomes, particularly those from more disadvantaged backgrounds or with additional needs,' he added
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Childcare subsidy scheme to be extended to primary school children
A subsidy scheme to help with the cost of childcare will be extended to primary school-age children from September 2025. On Thursday, Education Minister Paul Givan announced a £55m package of measures for early learning and childcare that will include an extension of the Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme. The scheme came into force in September and currently offers financial relief to households with children under primary school age. The scheme will be extended to include children in primary school from 1 September 2025. "This means that the working parents of school-age children will now receive the 15% subsidy, up to the capped amount, on their childcare bills," Givan said. "When this is combined with tax free childcare, it will provide a reduction of up to 32% on childcare bills," Givan said. More to follow. New childcare subsidy cash 'easing the pressure'
Belfast Telegraph
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
First Minister says it's ‘unfortunate' after Education Minister moves on Supreme Court gender ruling ahead of rest of Executive
Stormont's First Minister also warned there should be 'no knee jerk reaction' to the decision of the highest court in the UK that the terms 'woman' and 'sex' in the 2010 Equality Act 'refer to a biological woman and biological sex'. Ms O'Neill's response comes after Education Minister Paul Givan said he had already instructed his officials to ensure that all schools comply with the law ahead of guidance expected from the Equality Commission on the issue – a move she described as "unfortunate". The Sinn Fein vice president and the DUP MLA were both at the official sod-cutting for the £375m Strule Shared Education Campus today along with Deputy First Minster Emma Little-Pengelly. Although Northern Ireland is governed by its own equality laws, and the relevant provisions of the Equality Act do not apply in the region, Mr Givan has already moved ahead with plans to provide 'absolute clarity' in educational settings, saying that boys who identify as girls should not participate in girls sports, not use girls changing or toilet facilities. 'I absolutely do believe that we need to be uniform and across the board,' Ms O'Neill said. 'The Supreme Court has made its ruling. It's now for the Equality Commission to provide us with guidance as to what that means for us on a day-to-day basis, and across all of our departments and all of our public services. 'I would ask people to stop knee-jerking, and I would ask people to await the Equality Commission guidance, and then let's have a uniform approach. 'I think it's unfortunate that others have taken a different approach on this to this point. 'This is about compassion. This is about people out there in society who are fearful for their own safety. 'Let's be a bit compassionate for people. Let's actually take our time, don't knee-jerk to this, and actually understand the ruling and what it means for us here.' Ms O'Neill said it was 'unfortunate' that the Education Minister had taken a decision ahead of ministers receiving guidance on the court decision from the Northern Ireland Equality Commission. But Mr Givan remained resolute in his decision. 'Each minister and every department and indeed public organisation is under their own individual responsibility to ensure that they're complying with the law,' he said. 'The UK Supreme Court has now made it clear what the law is when it comes to sex, and it's biological sex based upon male and female. 'So, I'm not going to wait for the Equality Commission, who can provide advice, but it's for those who are responsible to take decisions. I will be taking decisions around this, and then that will need to be reflected in the guidance that operates within our education system. 'I think it's incumbent on all ministers to reflect the outworkings of the UK Supreme Court, and that's what I'm going to do.' Ms Little-Pengelly backed the Education Minister, saying it was 'for individual departments to obtain their own advice'. 'The Equality Commission, or any of these bodies, they are advisory, they're there to give some guidance, but that doesn't stop departments or agencies or bodies either from seeking their own advice and obtaining that advice but, of course, they also have those individual responsibilities under what the law is,' she said. 'So of course this is an urgent matter, and I have no doubt that organisations will be taking their own advice on this. 'It's important that our public bodies do follow what the law is on this. 'I do feel very strongly that there needs to be those safe spaces for women. Women can be very vulnerable in particular situations. 'Women have had their own personal experiences and will want, of course, to have those safe spaces and women-only spaces. 'I think that's absolutely right. I think that's common sense and I think that's what the Supreme Court very clearly set out. 'So, of course, the departments and bodies and organisations should follow that. 'I have no doubt that we will see much more discussion and debate about this over the next number of weeks.' Ms O'Neill was also asked about the protests by some camogie players against the enforced wearing of skorts during matches. 'I won't be getting involved in telling the governing body what they should and shouldn't do, but I do believe girls and young women should have their choice respected,' she said, echoing a call from SDLP MLA Cara Hunter earlier this week. Ms Hunter backed the protesting players, saying: 'Women should have the choice to wear what makes them feel most comfortable, particularly when competing in sports. 'We want to see more women and girls celebrated in sport, allowing this decision is a part of that. 'They've been very vocal that they want change and our players should be supported.'
Belfast Telegraph
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
O'Neill warns against ‘knee-jerk' reactions to Supreme Court ruling on gender
Michelle O'Neill was commenting after DUP Education Minister Paul Givan instructed his officials to ensure that all schools in the region comply with the landmark ruling. Sinn Fein vice president Ms O'Neill said it was 'unfortunate' that move had come ahead of ministers receiving guidance on the court decision from the Northern Ireland Equality Commission. The Supreme Court found that the terms 'woman' and 'sex' in the 2010 Equality Act 'refer to a biological woman and biological sex'. Northern Ireland is governed by its own equality laws, and the relevant provisions of the Equality Act do not apply in the region. The Supreme Court ruling is nevertheless expected to influence public policy decisions in Northern Ireland. The Equality Commission is preparing guidance on the ruling's potential implications on Stormont departments. Mr Givan has said he does not intend to wait for the commission's guidance, which is not binding on departments, and instead intends to take decisions to offer 'absolute clarity' in the education sector in relation to issues such as single-sex spaces and sporting participation. He has made clear he is opposed to boys who identify as girls taking part in girls' sports or using girls' changing or toilet facilities. Ms O'Neill said it was important ministers acted in a 'uniform' way when responding to the ruling. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. 'I absolutely do believe that we need to be uniform and across the board,' she told reporters on a visit to the site of the new Strule Shared Education Campus in Omagh. 'Let's make it understandable for everybody. 'The Supreme Court has made its ruling. It's now for the Equality Commission to provide us with guidance as to what that means for us on a day-to-day basis, and across all of our departments and all of our public services. 'So, I would ask people to stop knee-jerking, and I would ask people to await the Equality Commission guidance, and then let's have a uniform approach. 'I think it's unfortunate that others have taken a different approach on this to this point. 'But you know, this is about compassion. This is about people out there in society who are fearful for their own safety. 'So, let's be a bit compassionate for people. Let's actually take our time, don't knee-jerk to this, and actually understand the ruling and what it means for us here.' Ms O'Neill was attending the sod-cutting event in Omagh with Mr Givan and his DUP colleague and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly. Asked about the same issue, Mr Givan said individual departments had to comply with their own legal obligations. 'Each minister and every department and indeed public organisation is under their own individual responsibility to ensure that they're complying with the law,' he said. 'The UK Supreme Court has now made it clear what the law is when it comes to sex, and it's biological sex based upon male and female. 'So, I'm not going to wait for the Equality Commission, who can provide advice, but it's for those who are responsible to take decisions, and therefore I will be taking decisions around this, and then that will need to be reflected in the guidance that operates within our education system. 'I think it's incumbent on all ministers to reflect the outworkings of the UK Supreme Court, and that's what I'm going to do.' Ms Little-Pengelly said the ruling would have 'significant tangential impacts' in Northern Ireland. She also said it was for individual departments to obtain their own advice. 'The Equality Commission, or any of these bodies, they are advisory, they're there to give some guidance, but that doesn't stop departments or agencies or bodies either from seeking their own advice and obtaining that advice but, of course, they also have those individual responsibilities under what the law is,' she said. 'So of course this is an urgent matter, and I have no doubt that organisations will be taking their own advice on this.' She added: 'It's important that our public bodies do follow what the law is on this. 'I do feel very strongly that there needs to be those safe spaces for women. It is there for a good reason. 'Women can be very vulnerable in particular situations. 'Women have had their own personal experiences and will want, of course, to have those safe spaces and women-only spaces. 'I think that's absolutely right. I think that's common sense and I think that's what the Supreme Court very clearly set out. 'So, of course, the departments and bodies and organisations should follow that. 'It does apply, of course, wider than just in relation to the Equality Act of 2010 and, of course, I have no doubt that we will see much more discussion and debate about this in due course over the next number of weeks.'
Belfast Telegraph
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
Paul Givan rapped for refusal to rethink ‘flawed' £20m programme for schools
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council's active and healthy communities committee voted in December to lobby Paul Givan to reconsider the use of the 'Raise' formula for education amid fears deprived children will not benefit from the cash injection. Raise was supposed to help address educational underachievement and tackle educational disadvantage. However, it has been criticised after the eligibility criteria controversially moved from free school meal entitlement levels to include other indicators, meaning many better off grammar schools and a prep school, where parents usually pay fees, could benefit. The council sent a letter to the Department of Education in March raising concerns about more affluent schools benefiting over the less well-off. A response from Mr Givan provided last week said: 'I decided that the programme should be a regional programme, which will invest in disadvantage across all local government districts in Northern Ireland, including Newry, Mourne and Down. 'This will embed collaborative working in a high number of localities that can be a long lasting legacy after funding ends. 'I appreciate we have not been able to include all areas of educational disadvantage within NI and that there will always be areas that would wish to be included.' The Raise scheme, partially funded by the Irish Government's Shared Island Fund, was launched last October. However, major concerns were highlighted after the department's website identified almost 40 grammar schools and a prep school charging up to £5,000 a year as potentially eligible for funding. Mr Givan said he would have liked to stretch the programme further, 'but the funding available is finite and therefore an approach to prioritisation has been necessary'. 'I have prioritised investment in those areas with the lowest levels of educational attainment so that all children and young people can reach their potential. Ultimately the success of the programme will be determined on how well it improves educational outcomes, so it is right that I am investing in areas with the lowest levels of attainment,' he said. 'I am delighted that the programme will have a significant presence in Newry, Mourne and Down. This is a very important programme with significant potential to do things differently, to facilitate greater collaboration across government, local government and in partnerships with the voluntary and community sector and many others including schools. 'I welcome the ongoing engagement with the Raise programme team towards the development of a strategic plan for Newry.' Sinn Fein councillor Kate Murphy said: 'This is a very disappointing response. 'It fails to address the many concerns that educationalists and wider society have about the Raise programme, the methodology selected and how it has been applied. 'The first principle of education is that it should be child centred. Many schools are already chronically underfunded and running on deficit budgets. 'The Raise programme recognises neither of these facts and uses a flawed formula to select who will be funded and who, yet again, will not.'
